October 21st - This Date in Wine History

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Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature "This Date In Wine History," we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

  • George Plantagenet, Duke of Clarence was born in 1449.  He was accused of plotting his brother Edward IV and was executed in the Tower of London by being drowned in a butt of Malmsey wine.

  • Horatio Nelson, Lord Admiral of the British Navy and the Hero of Trafalgar died in 1805. His body was placed in cask of brandy, mixed with camphor and myrrh and later transferred to a lead coffin filled with spirits of wine.

  • Hermann Müller, a Swiss botanist and oenologist created the Müller-Thurgau varietal in 1882 was born in 1850.

  • Ohio's Grand River Valley AVA was designated in 1983.

  • New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania Lake Erie AVA was designated in 1983.

  • California's Chalk Hill, Knights Valley, Russian River Valley AVA were designated in 1983.

  • Verbicaro DOC was created in 1995.

  • Wine for the Confused, a movie by John Cleese was released in 2004.

September 29th - This Date in Wine History

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Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature "This Date In Wine History," we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

  • Queen Elizabeth I on her way to Tilbury Fort 1589 dined on roast goose and Burgundy wine. She fed so heartily that she required an extra half pint of Burgundy with which she drank to the destruction of the Spanish Armada.

  • Henri of Artois, Count of Chambord was born in 1820.  His mother named him for Henri IV and similarly baptized him with a spoon of wine and garlic.

  • Les Claypool of the band Primas was born in 1963.  He owns Claypool Cellars in the Russian River Valley.

  • Happy California Wine Month!

  • The French have a saying, “Entre Saint-Michel et Saint-François, prends ta vendange telle qu'elle est ; à Saint-Denis, prends-la si elle y est encore.” or “Between Saint-Michel (today) and Saint-François (October 4), harvest your grapes if they are ready; at Saint-Denis (October 9), take them if they are still there.”

October 21st - This Date in Wine History

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Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature "This Date In Wine History," we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

  • George Plantagenet, Duke of Clarence was born in 1449.  He was accused of plotting his brother Edward IV and was executed in the Tower of London by being drowned in a butt of Malmsey wine.
  • Horatio Nelson, Lord Admiral of the British Navy and the Hero of Trafalgar died in 1805. His body was placed in cask of brandy, mixed with camphor and myrrh and later transferred to a lead coffin filled with spirits of wine.
  • Hermann Müller, a Swiss botanist and oenologist created the Müller-Thurgau varietal in 1882 was born in 1850.
  • Ohio's Grand River Valley AVA was designated in 1983.
  • New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania Lake Erie AVA was designated in 1983.
  • California's Chalk Hill, Knights Valley, Russian River Valley AVA were designated in 1983.
  • Verbicaro DOC was created in 1995.
  • Wine for the Confused, a movie by John Cleese was released in 2004.

Northern Sonoma - Wine Region of the Day

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Northern Sonoma received its designation as an AVA in 1990. Situated over 329,000 acres, Northern Sonoma is home to sub-appellations Alexander Valley, Chalk Hill, Dry Creek Valley, Green Valley of Russian River Valley, Knights Valley, Rockpile, Russian River Valley, and Sonoma Coast.  It is the second largest appellation within Sonoma County.  It contains myriad elevations, soil types and climates.  It was designated, in large part to allow the term, "Estate" to be applied to vintages from large producers like Gallo and Rodney Strong but is home to some small producers as well.  The primary grape produced in this area is Cabernet Sauvignon but Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Zinfandel are grown here as well.

Northern Sonoma - Wine Region of the Day

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Northern Sonoma received its designation as an AVA in 1990. Situated over 329,000 acres, Northern Sonoma is home to sub-appellations Alexander Valley, Chalk Hill, Dry Creek Valley, Green Valley of Russian River Valley, Knights Valley, Rockpile, Russian River Valley, and Sonoma Coast.  It is the second largest appellation within Sonoma County.  It contains myriad elevations, soil types and climates.  It was designated, in large part to allow the term, "Estate" to be applied to vintages from large producers like Gallo and Rodney Strong but is home to some small producers as well.  The primary grape produced in this area is Cabernet Sauvignon but Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Zinfandel are grown here as well.

Sonoma Coast - Wine Region of the Day

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Sonoma Coast received its designation as an AVA in 1987. Situated across 500,000 acres that stretch from San Pablo Bay to the south and Mendocino to the north, Sonoma Coast is home to multiple sub-appellations Chalk Hill, Green Valley of Russian River Valley, Los Carneros, Northern Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Fort Ross-Seaview and Sonoma Valley. The appellation is known for its cool climate and high rainfall relative to other parts of Sonoma County. The area has a broad range of soil types and microclimates across its various sub-appellations.  As a result, a wide variety of grapes are grown in Sonoma Coast.  Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are predominant but you also find Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gewurztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc and Zinfandel among others.

2013 Calstar Russian River Valley Pinot Noir - Wine of the Day

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 2013 Calstar Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

$30

Bright ruby violet, the wine leads with juicy fruit on the nose: cranberry, raspberry and pomegranate.  Notes of dark, unsweetened chocolate, bay leaf and sweet baking spices round out the profile.  In the mouth, the light body is carried by ripe, big red fruit notes that follow the aromas.  There is an impression of sweetness from the cola and vanilla notes but the wine is totally dry.  A long, juicy finish of strawberry, coffee and cherry rounds out the wine and brings the fruit into balance.

Northern Sonoma - Wine Region of the Day

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Northern Sonoma

Northern Sonoma received its designation as an AVA in 1990. Situated over 329,000 acres, Northern Sonoma is home to sub-appellations Alexander Valley, Chalk Hill, Dry Creek Valley, Green Valley of Russian River Valley, Knights Valley, Rockpile, Russian River Valley, and Sonoma Coast.

2011 Oak Cliff Cellars Sonoma Chardonnay (Unoaked) - Wine of the Day

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 2011 Oak Cliff Cellars Sonoma Chardonnay (Unoaked)

$24

Because this wine is made and aged in stainless tanks, the fruit is crisp and clean: initially notes of Green Apple and Pear are predominant when served chilled properly, and give way to Melon notes with a hint of Citrus as the wine warms in the glass. The mouthfeel is especially creamy due to the fact that it has undergone 100% malolactic fermentation, converting harsh malic acids to softer, milky ones.

Grapes from this wine come from two Sonoma vineyards: one from southern Sonoma County in Carneros and the other from the Russian River area. Carneros is the cooler climate, with wind and fog prevalent conditions, meaning longer growing time, higher acidity and leaner fruit, while Russian River fruit tends to be riper and fatter in style. By blending fruit from the two distinctive areas, this wine results in high acidity and clean, crisp fruit leaning toward green apple and citrus, but with a nice, plump mid-palate of pear and melon.

Russian River Valley - Wine Region of the Day

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The Russian River Valley AVA is located on 155,000 acres in Sonoma County, California. Situated on the Russian River, the appellation was granted AVA status in 1983 and has over 10,000 acres currently under vine. The soil of the Russian River Valley varies by region. Layers of volcanic ash and eroded bedrock have created a sandstone that cover most of the region. Near the Russian River itself, there is alluvial soil, and in the northern most region, clay soil is abundant. The variety of soils gives the Russian River Valley a great range in the profiles of its varietals. The Russian River Valley's feature characteristic is its cool climate, generated by fog and coastal breezes due to the valley's proximity to the Pacific Ocean. The area features varietals known to grow well in cool climates. The region is best known for its Pinot Noir and Chardonnay production.

2013 Calstar Russian River Valley Pinot Noir - Wine of the Day

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2013 Calstar Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

$30

Bright ruby violet, the wine leads with juicy fruit on the nose: cranberry, raspberry and pomegranate.  Notes of dark, unsweetened chocolate, bay leaf and sweet baking spices round out the profile.  In the mouth, the light body is carried by ripe, big red fruit notes that follow the aromas.  There is an impression of sweetness from the cola and vanilla notes but the wine is totally dry.  A long, juicy finish of strawberry, coffee and cherry rounds out the wine and brings the fruit into balance